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Finn’s POV

“What do you mean her car got damaged?” I barked into the phone, my voice echoing down the hall. I gripped the phone tighter, barely able to keep my frustration in check. The man on the other end was stammering through his words, and every second I had to wait felt like another jab of irritation.

“Sir… Lia’s car hit a pole,” he finally managed. “She’s fine, but, uh, she decided to leave in a taxi. She… instructed me to call and have one of the drivers come to pick up her car.”

I gritted my teeth, feeling a rush of anger pulsed through me. “So she just left? Without letting anyone know what happened?”

“Yes, sir,” he replied, his voice timid. “She, um, seemed in a hurry and said she’d take care of things herself.”

I was about to say more, but a voice floated in from down the hall, and I turned to see Alina, my sister, standing there, her arms crossed with a smirk already spreading across her face. I ended the call abruptly, not wanting her to hear any more than she already had.

“Oh, that is rich,” Alina laughed, barely able to contain her amusement. “Your precious bride-to-be crashes her car and doesn’t even bother to call you? And instead of you going to her, she just… what, sends for a driver to clean up the mess?”

“Alina,” I warned, already exhausted by her taunting.

She took a step closer, her laughter still simmering. “Is this really the woman you’re planning to marry, Finn? I mean, if she’s already treating you like her personal cleanup crew, I can only imagine what life will be like for you after the wedding.” Her eyes glinted with mischief, relishing the chance to rattle me.

“Enough.” I shunned her instantly, my voice cold. I didn’t have the patience for this today, least of all from her.

But she didn’t back down, the smile never leaving her face. “Fine, fine. But just think about it, dear brother. Some of us can see the mess you’re walking into, even if you can’t.”

I turned away, biting back the retort that was on the tip of my tongue. Her laughter followed me as I walked down the hall, my irritation simmering with every step. The last thing I needed was Alina meddling in my business. I didn’t care what she thought of Lia; Alina’s perspective on anyone other than herself had always been skewed.

I was so focused on keeping my composure that I nearly ran into Bianca as she came around the corner. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she reached out, steadying herself against my arm.

“Finn,” she said, concern creasing her brow. “What’s going on?”

I shook my head, feeling too frustrated to explain. “Nothing, Bianca. Just… don’t worry about it.”

Her gaze followed me, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop and talk. I needed space to think, to sort through what had just happened without Bianca or Alina picking it apart and making it worse.

As I moved away from her and headed toward my office, I forced myself to focus. I would deal with the car, and I would deal with Lia, and no amount of meddling from anyone was going to change that.

___

Lia's POV

I arrived at Benedicta’s house, feeling a strange sense of relief wash over me. The morning had been tense, and the drive here, with everything replaying in my mind, had only tightened the knots in my chest. But as I stepped into the cozy warmth of Benedicta’s home, I felt myself begin to relax.

The moment I walked in, Merlin came bounding over, his face lighting up as soon as he saw me. “Lia!” he called, throwing his small arms around my waist in a fierce hug.

I laughed, scooping him up into my arms. “Merlin, my little knight,” I said, kissing the top of his head. “Have you been keeping the kingdom safe while I’ve been away?”

He giggled, nodding proudly. “Of course! I made a fort out of the sofa cushions,” he said, his eyes wide with excitement.

“That sounds like a castle fit for a true knight,” I replied, giving him a squeeze. “Now, go show me how brave you are, and let Benedicta and me talk for a bit, okay?”

He nodded, wriggling down from my arms and running off toward the living room. I watched him go, my heart softening. If only everything in my life could be as simple as Merlin’s joy over his little forts and pretend castles.

I turned back to see Benedicta watching me with a gentle smile, though her eyes seemed to hold a hint of concern. She motioned me over to the kitchen table, and we both sat down.

“Benedicta,” I began, taking a steadying breath. “I’ve been trying to reach Luca all morning, but his phone keeps going straight to voicemail.”

Benedicta’s smile faded slightly, her brow furrowing. “That’s strange. He always keeps his phone on him.”

“I know,” I said, the worry that had been gnawing at me since breakfast resurfacing. “I wouldn’t be so concerned, but this morning… a phone was found outside Finn’s gate. I have a feeling it’s Luca’s.”

She drew in a sharp breath, her expression turning serious. “Luca went to see you last night, didn’t he?”

I nodded, pressing my lips together, unsure of how much to reveal. “Yes. I think he might have been outside, trying to reach me. But Finn’s guards must have scared him off, and he must have left his phone behind.”

Benedicta’s face filled with worry as she took this in. “If that phone was Luca’s, and it was found by Finn’s people…” She trailed off, her fingers tracing patterns on the table as she seemed to be calculating the risks.

Just then, the door opened, and Luca walked in, his gaze flickering between us, clearly sensing the tension in the room. “Lia,” he said, his expression softening when he saw me. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Benedicta looked up, her relief clear. “Luca! Lia was just telling me about the phone. Is it true? Did you leave your phone outside Finn’s gate?”

Luca’s face tightened slightly, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. “Yes,” he admitted, his voice steady. “I… threw it. I was angry, and I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.”

I looked at him, my own worry mixing with relief. “But what if Finn finds it? What if he—”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “Don’t worry. I already deactivated everything on the phone remotely. All the data’s wiped clean. There’s nothing on there that could trace it back to me.”

Benedicta’s shoulders relaxed, though she still looked troubled. “Are you sure, Luca? Finn’s pack has a way of digging deeper than most.”

He nodded confidently. “I’m sure. There’s nothing left for them to find. I made sure of it.”

A sense of relief washed over me, and I rose from my seat, crossing the room to where he stood. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the familiar comfort of his presence steadying me. He returned the embrace, his arms warm and reassuring around me.

“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “For always being there, even when things get complicated.”

He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, his voice soft as he replied, “I’d do anything for you, Lia. You know that.”

We pulled apart, but the warmth of his support lingered, giving me the strength I needed to face whatever came next.